Appearing before the National Assembly's Law Committee on Wednesday, Republican Senator François-Noël Buffet defended his candidacy for the position of Defender of Rights. Challenged by several associations due to his past positions on social issues, he maintains that he has "evolved" and promises to carry out his future mission with complete independence.
Nominated by the President of the Republic to succeed Claire Hédon, François-Noël Buffet sought to reassure members of parliament of his ability to perform the role impartially. A former lawyer at the Lyon bar and former minister, he affirmed that he had always been committed to upholding public and individual liberties throughout his career.
His appointment, however, has sparked strong opposition. Some sixty organizations, including Greenpeace France, Doctors of the World, Oxfam France, SOS Racisme, the Family Planning Association, and Inter-LGBT, denounced positions they deemed incompatible with the duties of the Defender of Rights. They specifically pointed to his past votes and statements on abortion, same-sex marriage, and state medical aid (AME).
The candidate stands by his past and affirms that he has evolved
Faced with criticism from left-wing MPs, François-Noël Buffet rejected the "trials of intent" he believes he is being subjected to. When questioned about his past opposition to same-sex marriage, he acknowledged having changed his position on several social issues.
“I admit that things have changed,” he said, explaining that his reservations at the time concerned the consequences of the reform more than its principle. When asked if he would be able to defend rights he had once opposed, the senator replied that his commitment to the values of the Republic and individual liberties remained intact, while asserting that the position required “total independence.”
When questioned about rumors of a political agreement between the Élysée Palace and the Senate regarding his nomination, François-Noël Buffet stated that he was unaware of any such "bargaining." The nomination process will continue on July 21 , when he will be questioned by the Senate's Law Committee. Votes from the National Assembly and the Senate will determine whether his appointment is definitively confirmed.
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